Geometric Morphing Wing Airfoil Using Shape Memory Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airfoil member systems are limited in their ability to significantly change shape and size, compromising flight performance across various flight conditions, leading to suboptimal aerodynamic characteristics and reduced adaptability.
Innovation Solution
An airfoil member system incorporating a geometric morphing device with a fiber mesh and shape memory matrix material, actuated by motors and temperature controllers, allowing for substantial changes in size and shape in response to temperature stimuli, enabling compound shape alterations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional airfoil member surface modifying devices (flaps, slats, ailerons) are used, then control forces and moments during flight are provided, but the ability to significantly alter shape and size of the airfoil member is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs smart materials whose physical properties change in response to external stimuli (temperature, electrical fields, magnetic fields). This allows the airfoil member to undergo significant shape and size changes by altering material parameters, enabling adaptation to multiple flight conditions without traditional mechanical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite structures incorporating smart materials (shape memory alloys, piezoelectric materials, magnetostrictive materials) combined with traditional airfoil materials. This composite approach enables the airfoil to achieve both structural integrity and significant morphing capability, resolving the contradiction between shape adaptability and structural strength.
2Speed
If mechanically swept wings are used for high-speed flight, then aerodynamics during high-speed flight are improved, but the ability to significantly affect airfoil member shape is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static mechanically swept wing into a dynamic structure that can continuously adjust its shape and sweep angle in response to flight conditions. Smart materials enable real-time morphing of the airfoil, allowing optimization for both high-speed and low-speed flight, thereby expanding the flight envelope adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical sweep mechanisms with smart material-based morphing systems. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical linkages and actuators, enabling smoother, more precise, and more extensive shape changes while maintaining high-speed aerodynamic performance.
3Ease of operation
If airfoil member surface modifying devices are used, then control forces and moments are provided, but the devices tend to use motors or actuators and other mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces motors, actuators, and mechanical linkages with smart materials that respond directly to external fields (thermal, electrical, magnetic). This eliminates complex mechanical control systems while maintaining or enhancing control capability, as the smart materials inherently provide the morphing function through material property changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart materials in the airfoil member enable self-morphing in response to flight conditions without requiring external mechanical actuators. The materials automatically adjust the airfoil shape based on applied stimuli, providing control forces and moments through material deformation rather than mechanical components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides increased adaptability and improved flight characteristics, including enhanced payload capacity at lower speeds, better aerodynamics at higher speeds, and extended flight range by allowing significant shape and size modifications throughout the flight envelope.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic properties of the airfoil matrix material are susceptible to an external stimulus, preferably a change in its temperature induced by cooling or heating the matrix material. When a change in the size and/or shape of at least a section of the airfoil is desired, the temperature modulator coupled to the section of the airfoil is actuated and a change in the local temperature causes the matrix material of the section to switch from a substantially stiff form to an elastically deformable form.
Data Source
AI summary
An airfoil member and an airfoil member altering system are provided for significantly modifying the shape and size of the airfoil member while simultaneously providing an airfoil member with increased adaptability to various flight conditions throughout a flight envelope. The airfoil member comprises at least one motor or actuator, a system controller, a plurality of vehicle performance sensors, at least one temperature controller and airfoil member comprising at least one geometric morphing device that is adjustable in both size and shape and one or more rigid members.